10-24-2023, 12:45 PM
(10-09-2023, 11:26 AM)TMo Wrote: Temperature of well water is normally in the 50-60 degree Fahrenheit range. In order to generate steam then, you're changing the temperature (and keeping it there) by 150-160 degrees, and you have to be ready to release the steam at a moment's notice - you have to have that boiler hot long before you move your locomotive.
If you have an electric water heater in your home, you raise the well water temperature by about 50-60 degrees and you typically only have enough hot water to take a couple showers before you have to wait for the tank to refill and reheat.
It would take a hell of an electric heating coil to generate enough energy to produce the steam required to power a locomotive, let alone pull cars behind you, even on level ground.
The energy required heat the coil has to come from somewhere. I don't know if you were thinking of overhead catenary to power the electric loco (guess where that electricity comes from (hint, it's not green))? Current battery technology wouldn't suffice. If you don't have an external voltage source, the electricity has to be generated by a motor - probably diesel, or back to good ole coal. (again, not green).
Hope you don't think I'm jumping on you or your idea - it's good to understand that nothing in this world is free.
(10-09-2023, 06:46 PM)BR60103 Wrote: I checked this out
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOL...isselc.htm
as I thought they had tried it.
Interesting! Thanks, David. Rob